Dispenser



` March 2 1943- E. J. osTERBAuER I 2l2,973

DISPENSER Filed Feb. 424,1940

All

Patented Mar. 2, 1943 Unirse STATES 9 Claims.

This invention relates to dispensers for salt, pepper, and the like, and more particularly tothe type adapted for table use and arranged to dispense a predetermined quantity upon actuation thereof.

Important objects of the invention are the pro-- vision of a salt and pepper dispenser of novel construction wherein the material is dispensed in predetermined definite amounts upon each actuation thereof, and is simultaneously dispersed substantially uniformly over a predetermined area, wherein the dispensing operation is positive and provides a positive shut-01T of the material at the completion of a dispensing operation, wherein novel measuring means is provided and novel means for actuating the measuring means.

I have also aimed to provide a dispenser of the type having a measuring plunger wherein the structural features are such as to insure discharge of all of the material, and accurate alignment of the parts at all times.

Another aim of the invention is the provision of a highly simplied construction wherein susceptible parts are protected from corrosion.

I have also aimed to provide a dispenser of the type described having means for producing a slight jar of the measuring device at the end of the measuring stroke to shake off any material which might otherwise cling thereto.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following description and the accompanying drawing, in which- Y L 'Figure 1 is a side elevation of a dispenser embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a bottom view taken as indicated at 4-4 on Fig. 2;

substantially i Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical section through 'bottom flange and the side Walls 8, and a stop I3 secured to the top of the cylindrical side walls 8- by means of ccmplementalthreads I4. The

top may advantageously have a knurled annular rib I0 to facilitate its removal. In this instance the side walls 8, the bottom flange 9, and the top I3 are formed of synthetic plastics, but this is, of course, not essential. The bottom flange 9 may be cemented directly to the wall 8 so as to be permanently affixed thereto, or they may be molded integral and the plate i2 seated on an annular flange on the 4bottom of the cylindrical chamber I5` formed thereby. The top I3 isvremoved for the purpose of lling the container with the desired material. This may be salt, pepper, or any of the other usual condiments susceptible of being dispensed in this fashion.

The plate I2 has a cylindrical opening I6 substantially at its center, and the top I3 has an opening Il coaxial therewith within which openings is carried a measuring plunger designated generally by the numeral I8, the plunger being of such length ,as to project a short distance above thecover I 3 as shown at I9 so that the plunger may be depressed by the nger of the operator. The plunger IB. has an upper portion 2I of smaller diameter such as to fit snugly against the opening I1, an intermediate portion 22 of substantially larger diameter connected to the portion 2l by a conical surface 23, and a lower flange 24 adjacent its lower end. The

flange 24 has an outwardly and downwardly ment.

The inter'med'iatiportion 22 has a pluraiityjof 'circumferentially extending recesses 26, 2T, 28 and 29 all positioned in the same horizontal plane u'and divided by ribs 3|, 32, 33 and 34 extending longitudinally of the plunger. The lower edge of the recesses is spaced from the upper edge of the ange 25 a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the plate I2 as shown at 35 so that when the flange 24 seats upwardly against the plate, the upper surface of the plate I2 `will be vflush with the lower edge of the recesses; rIhese recesses have substantially the cross-sectional shape shown in Fig. 5, including a substantially plane upper side 3S and a substantially plane `lcvver side 3l joined at their inner edges by lan arcuate end 38. I have found that this particular shape facilitates the Aennoty ing of the recesses,

thereby causing the dispensing operation to cut oi sharp.

It will be seen that when the finger is placed on the upper end I9 of the plunger and the plunger moved from the position shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. 5, the recesses are moved from within the chamber I to a point without the chamber I5. While the recesses occupy the position shown in Fig. 2, the material, such as salt or pepper, .moves .in response to the handling of the dispenser, into the recesses, and when vthe plunger is depressed, the exact quantity held in these recesses is moved to a point outside the container, whereby the material drops out of the recesses, striking the ange 24, which acts to disperse it over the area to be covered. It will be seen that the close Viit between the cpen'mg 'I6 and the intermediate portion 2'2 .causes the material to be accurately measured, but also prevents any afterflow of material out of the container, since the plate cooperates with the upper area of the portion 22 to close the container. Discharge o-f the material is .further facilitated by the fact that the plunger at the end of its stroke strikes against a-stop, in this instance comprising 2 a wire hav-ing a horizontal portion 39 and end portions 4I and 42, which end portions project upwardly `through the plate .I2 and are riveted over on the upper side of the plate as shown at 43 and 44. If desired the ends 4I and 42 may have flanges which abut against the lower surface of the plate I2, but this is by no means necessary. When the end of the plunger strikes the stop, the plunger is jarred so that any material which may have clung to the .arcuate sides 25 of the flange or which may have remained in the recesses is j arred loose-and .drops off the bottom of the dispenser.

In order to return the plunger .I8 to its upper position, the plunger is provided with a bore 45 extending inwardly from its lower end within which is positioned a coil spring 46 which acts against a plug 41 urging the same downward and urging the plunger upward to the position shown in Fig. 2. When the plunger is depressed, the spring 46 is compressed and the plug 41 moves into the bore in the manner shown in Fig. 5.

,Attention is directed to the fact that I have provided a novel form of dispenser in which the plunger I8 is seated in a plate having a closely tting opening I6 comprising the `only outlet through the plate, and wherein the plunger has recesses of novel form for facilitating the discharge of the material divided by ribs which act to guide the plunger. I have also provided a constructicn'in which the spring` 46 `is seated-.in the bore 45 out .of .contact with salt or other 'material which tends to corrode or destroy the same, which spring cooperates with the stop 39 and theflange 2.4 ,to further facilitate the discharge of thematerial.

vWhile .I have thus described and illustrated a specific embodiment of the invention, this is by way of illustration and not limitation, and I do not wish to be limited except as required by the prior art and the scope of the appended claims, in which I claim:

l. The combination in an article of the class described, of a container having top and bottom closure members, each having an opening, a measuring plunger seating in said openings and projecting beyond the top member for actuation from an upper position downward to dispense a portion of the contents of said container through the opening between the periphery of the depressed plunger and the said bottom opening, said plunger having a bore in the bottom end thereof, a stop on the bottom end of said container spaced from the bottom end of said plunger when the plunger occupies said upper position, and spring means in said bore acting against said stop to return said plunger upward.

2. The combination recited in claim l, wherein said stop comprises a U-shaped rod extending across the opening in said bottom closure member in downwardly spaced relation thereto, the ends of said rod extending upwardly and being attached to said bottom closure member.

3. The combination recited in claim 1 wherein said container has a depending annular flange extending to a plane below the plane of said stop -to support the container with the stop and bottom closure member concealed Within the iflange.

4. The combination in salt or pepper dispenser of a container for granular material, a bottom closure member .in the form of a plate having a central lopening having vertical sides, a measuring `plunger seated in said opening for close reciprocating movement therein, said plunger having a peripheral flange at its lower end of larger diameter than said opening adapted to seat against the lower side of said plate to limit movement of the plunger in an upwardly direction, an intermediate portion of intermediate diameter received in said opening provided with peripheral recesses extending around lsaid intermediate portion for the reception of granular material from said container and of a vertical dimension about the thickness ci said plate and an annular length of substantially greater distance, said recesses converging inwardly from their upper and lower sides toward the center of said plunger to substantially prevent iiow of granular material through said recesses in any position of said plunger, means for depression of the plunger a distance greater than the vertical dimension of said recesses to move the same through the plate and thereby discharge a constant measured quantity of the contents of the container irrespective of the speed with which the plunger is actuated downwardly, and spring means for returning said plunger.

5. The combination recited in claim 4 wherein said flange curves `outwardly and downwardly to distribute the material flowing out of said recesses.`

6. The `combination 1n an article of the character described comprising Aa container having both bottom and top closure members each having an opening therein, a plunger member extending through each of said openings and having a bottom flange portion limiting 'upward movement of the said plunger and adapted to seat against the bottom opening when in a retracted position, the said plunger having an upper portion projecting above the said top closure member, a bore in the said plunger running longitudinally thereof, and spring means within the said bore operative between said plunger and the stationary part of said container completely isolated from the contents of the said container and concealed from view for retracting the said plunger after downward actuation thereof.

7. The combination in an article for dispensing a granulated material, of a container, a bottom closure member in the form of a plate having a central opening, a measuring vplunger seated in said opening for close reciprocating movement therein, peripheral recesses at the lower end of said plunger having a vertical dimension of about the thickness of the said plate and of a materially greater peripheral dimension, said recesses comprising upper and lower inclned side walls converging toward the center of said plunger and terminating at an arcuate wall joining said side walls, means for depressing the plunger a distance greater than the vertical dimension of said recesses to move the same through the plate and thereby discharge a constant measured quantity of the contents of the container irrespective of the speed with which the plunger is actuated downwardly, and spring means for returning said plunger.

8. The combination recited in claim 4 wherein stop means is provided and positioned so that said plunger comes into abutment therewith at the end of its downward movement to thereby impart a shock to the plunger and shake the discharged material free from said recesses.

9. The combination recited in claim 4 wherein said container has a depending annular ange extending to a plane substantially beyond the bottom of said container, to support the container with the bottom closure member and the lower end of said plunger concealed within the ilange.

EDWIN J. OSI'ERBAUER. 

